Bluefin Tuna Fetches Record Price of $3.2m at Tokyo Auction

A massive bluefin tuna created waves at the Toyosu fish market this Monday, achieving a historic bid of 510.3 million yen (3.2 million US dollars; £2.4m) during the venue's opening auction of the new year.

The top offer for the 243-kilogram fish was placed by the parent firm of a well-known sushi chain, which runs restaurants across the country and abroad.

"The year's tuna signals good luck," commented the business owner, a regular figure at the yearly January sale.

Dubbed the King of Tuna, this industry figure is renowned for submitting high bids for premium bluefin tuna at these symbolic new year auctions.

Auction Surprise and Record-Setting Past

After the auction, the successful bidder told the press that he was "surprised at the winning bid," stating, "I expected we would be able to buy it a little for less, but the price skyrocketed before you knew it."

This latest acquisition surpasses his previous historic purchases:

• He secured a tuna for 56.5 million yen back in 2012.
• He spent 155 million yen in 2013.
• In 2019, he purchased a tuna for 333.6 million yen (2.1 million dollars).

Even after once commenting that he thought he "bid too high," he has now managed to shatter his own record another time.

A Tradition of Exorbitant Bids

The first auction at the Tokyo fish market is typically known for exorbitant prices. The previous year, the first tuna was bought for 207 million yen by a different sushi chain operator, which indicated the fish would be served at its locations throughout the country.

The intense energy at the fish market during these pre-dawn auctions has evolved into a popular spectacle in Tokyo. Monday's auction, which started around 05:00 local time, was no different.

Swift Service

The multi-million-dollar tuna was quickly sliced up for customers at the bidder's sushi establishments shortly after the auction ended.

"I feel like I've begun the year in a auspicious way after consuming something so lucky as the year begins," remarked one elated patron.